Ireland vs England Feb 23, 3pm Twickenham

Stheno · 23-02-2020 1:24pm #1

Match thread.

Away with ye

steves2 · 23-02-2020 1:32pm

England without the 2 vuniploas are vulnerable but Ireland still need to play at their best to win. Tuilagi had a field day last year against us, hoping there's a plan to negate his impact. Ireland to win by 5.

Lundstram · 23-02-2020 1:37pm

England 29-16 Ireland

stephen_n · 23-02-2020 1:49pm

England are favorites based on 2019 for definite. It’s too hard to know though what’s going to happen today. A lot will depend on Tualagi’s fitness and influence. Though the Aki Henshaw access might reduce the impact of his power game. If Ireland can secure quick accurate ruck ball, then we will win I’d say.

prawnsambo · 23-02-2020 2:10pm

Zero drinking time wasted on the OP. Well done Stheno.

Tables are only for putting your beer on.

clsmooth · 23-02-2020 2:45pm

Wet and windy here in London today although rain stopped for now. Box kicking will be the order of the day, Daly and Joseph can be gotten at.

Stheno · 23-02-2020 2:46pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

Zero drinking time wasted on the OP. Well done Stheno.

Tables are only for putting your beer on.

Going home now to put the beer on the table

Yeah_Right · 23-02-2020 3:02pm

Stheno wrote: »

Going home now to put the beer on the table

Heading to the pub to do the same.

1st dalkey dalkey · 23-02-2020 3:07pm

Very odd team selection from Jones.
A lot of Locks.
Looks like they are going to go after our set pieces and try to batter us into submission.
Worked the last time.
Our new wider, freer game might negate some of that, but just how comfortable are we with that new game?
We will know shortly.

kilns · 23-02-2020 3:09pm

Very apprehensive about this game. I don’t think we anywhere near where we think we are as Scotland and Wales have proven how bad they are. While England have a serious point to prove after a lot of criticism. However England with out their big balls carriers (ex Tuliagi) are a totally different team and if we could hold Tuliagi and not give stupid penalties away we could win but England with home advantage and awful referee and passion they beat us with last year it could be a long day at Twickenham. Heart says Ireland by 2 head says England by 10

clsmooth · 23-02-2020 3:19pm

Sun seems to be coming out now

Dubinusa · 23-02-2020 3:29pm

England are struggling some and we are ... we lucked out v Scotland. It's a good time to play England though!
Both Vunipola's out and Eddie playing Curry at 8. It's hard to believe England made the rwc final.
I think England by 10.

dublinman1990 · 23-02-2020 3:35pm

This is Ireland's 1st match for AF as HC against England. If he can learn from the mistakes from Schmidt's final year as Ireland HC then it's all good. It would be great from AF's perspective to get Ireland to win today. I have a sneaking suspicion that Ireland can do really well here because AF has that experience already because he has been under Schmidt's tenure already. On paper he should be well able to get a win against England. But I still wary that England can still strike back because of the power coming from many players in their team. England are still a strong physical side to play against on the pitch. I am a little bit worried that they still could get a huge scalp against us. But I will enjoy the spectacle that is Ireland playing England at Twickenham. My prediction today is Ireland by 10.

prettyboy81 · 23-02-2020 3:50pm

Hope more than expectation, come on Ireland!

Buer · 23-02-2020 3:59pm

Think this is England by 10 unfortunately. They've got to put a marker down, first game at home and I'm not sure we are where we need to be. The Welsh performance was good but Wales aren't anything special at the moment.

If we start fast, we've a chance but if they dictate the collisions early on and we struggle to get into the game, I don't see us getting on top.